Chapter 8: Chapter 6: Coming up to date, literally
"You know, it's really basic communication and decorum to tell people you're still alive. Especially when there's a Signal #5 storm that decimated your island and some ships sunk," the sarcastic voice echoed in the room, which intrigued Lumi.
'What was that rectangular device on Math's hand, and why is it made of metal?' she thought to herself, amused, 'Why is there a voice on the other side? ' She was lost in her thoughts as Matthos talked to Julian Lim, also lovingly called Barney.
"Power just came back this morning."
There was a short pause, then Barney said, "I shouldn't have read the cards. I need to consecrate the deck. Our last mission changed its nature. Good—"
"What did the cards show you?"
The voice on the other line sighed, "Something weird, I couldn't understand if it was a good thing or bad thing: magician, wheel of fortune, hanged man. Only the wheel of fortune was upside down," Barney took a deep breath and continued," The cards called me two days ago. It was probably early in the morning, during the witching hour. When I checked the news, I found out there was a bad storm going on in Physma, so I brought the deck out. Damn it! I should've consecrated the deck first," he babbled, but before he could continue, he was interrupted.
"Dude, I think the cards were trying to say something to you. I did do something," Matthos was greeted with radio silence before
"You idiot!"
Matthos remembered where he was and that Lumi was there with him. She looked surprised.
"Fudge you, Matthos Timothy Trem! What the fudge did you do now to bring out the wheel of fortune card and hanged man?" Barney demanded
He only smiled at his friend's wrath, slowly and silently escorting Lumi out of the bathroom and led her to rest in the other room. He let Barney yell some expletives as he left Lumi to rest.
"I did something, but you won't believe it until I show you" Matthos started to summarize his "walk" to the fountain where he found Lumi on the brink of death, without mentioning Lumi.
"So let me get this straight, you went to the Mermaid and the Beast fountain in the middle of the storm as a sort of adventure?" Barney reiterated slowly, then he exploded, "Damn you, Matthos! Where's your common sense? What made you go out in the storm? The deck was wrong. You weren't in danger. You were being an idiot."
"Ah, but there is something I need you to see," he didn't know how to open the topic, but immortals were Barney's specialty in their field. He can determine if Lumi is a paranormal being or a product of supernatural forces. That and the other problems that may come their way in the future.
Matthos had a long-term perspective, and his fast actions would later up their chances in search of the truth.
"Fine, I'm bored anyway," Barney admitted
He chuckled in response, "I knew it. See you in two days?"
"One. Bye, baby boy."
Before he can respond, the call ended. 'Baby Boy?' Matthos laughed. When he opened the door, he instinctively caught Lumi, who was eavesdropping.
"A friend?" she asked warily.
"Yes, he can help us find some things out. Anyways," Matthos looked at his watch, "We need to go out and do our groceries. We're out of food, and I need to withdraw money."
"Oh," Lumi expressed disinterest, but the moment she saw the car, she jumped and dug her nails on Matthos' arms, which made his eyes water.
'That doesn't feel right. The car doesn't look that bad.' The car in question was a 2019 Green Wrangler. A bit muddy but classic.
'I need to cut her nails,' he thought to himself.
"What is that abomination?" she exclaimed in horror
It dawned on him. She's from the 1800s. Cars were commercialized in 1910.
"It's a car."
"A what?"
"A horseless carriage."
"That's what they said about the iron horse, and it ended nowhere. No, we are going to travel by foot!" she said indignantly. Matthos smiled, amused by her conviction.
"We'll end up walking for days."
"Oh," it dawned on her that she's not from this time, "Will you help me?" she released her hold on his arms, which had bleeding scratches at that point.
"Of course," Matthos opened the door and helped Lumi in. She almost jumped out when he put the seatbelt in.
He closed the door and set himself on the driver's seat fast. His passenger looked terrified, and if anyone saw her, they might think he abducted her.
"Would you like to play some music?"
"There's no band anywhere."
"The music system is connected to my phone," he tried to explain, but he gave up seeing the look on her face. He'll leave it to Barney. "I'll let someone explain it to you. For now, what kind of tune are you into?"
"I want a melody as tough as the storm" she closed her eyes, not even looking outside her window with an expression that pleaded with him to make this car ride journey stop. The road was long, muddy, and had a lot of debris. It looked like she'd get car sick any moment.
"Alright," Matthos switched, connected his phone, and played, "Do I wanna know."
She looked like she still wanted to ask questions but decided to settle down, and to his surprise, she bobbed to the beat.
She hummed, occasionally mumbling the lyrics "Crawling back to you" and "Do I wanna know"
"Where's the singer?" she looked around the car, unexpectedly looking happy.
"They are in their house" Matthos smiled
"They sing in their house?"
"I think so," but then it dawned on him, she didn't know technology at all! "Their voice was recorded in this device and mass produced," he tried to explain.
"A memory? You can catch memories now?" she gawked in disbelief, and Matthos was doing his best not to laugh as he drove.
"Yes," he mentally slapped himself when she cried out loud, "Shame! Why would you take someone's memory? Why would you do such a thing? Why would you steal something so good and take pleasure of each moment of their loss?"
"Not steal it!" he clarified," They let us copy it for money and passion" he wasn't good at explaining things.
Barney can help and also bring Barney's burgers.
"Money? In exchange of memories?" Lumi was overwhelmed, was this really how the world was now?
"I will explain when we're not on the road. For now, enjoy the music" he played another song.
"I am sorry for the distress I keep on causing. I really know nothing of this" she had this defeated look that made him stop the car to gain her attention.
"It's fine. If you are willing to learn, I will do my best to teach you the things you need to know," Matthos reassured her.
"What kind of payment will you demand from me?" her skeptical look made him burst into laughter, which captivated Lumi. His laugh was an explosion, and it sounded as if he was singing as he wiped the tears off of his face. A few seconds and he was able to regain his senses
"I apologize for that. I just couldn't help myself" he cleared his throat. "I'll demand a lot of things, but I won't ask for your virtue," he worded it so kindly that Lumi's eyes suddenly watered. Matthos grabbed a tissue and handed it to her.
"Thank you, Math's" she looked extremely grateful, and Matthos quickly went back to driving. He did it smoothly, only letting Lumi calm down as he, on the other hand, became nervous. He tried to shake it from his mind. Lumi was talking and looking at him straight in the eye, and he watched as the corner of her eye healed itself.
"Is there ale where we are heading to? I miss the taste of it" Lumi closed her eyes and tried to remember the time where she was given a mug of ale and a piece of bread.
"We'll pick some on our way home" he made a note to text the barmaid from a pub nearby who made traditional ale. Some contacts came in handy.
"Thank you."
No matter how loud the second song was, it did not affect her at all as she dozed in her seat. Her mouth was slightly open, and Matthos was finally able to drive without any interruptions. Only a teenage girl who might not even be a teenager or a human who was peacefully asleep beside him.
His parents would not have disapproved, though, which is why he has no plans of informing them. He had seen a lot of creatures in the headquarters. He knew where she would end if they found out. Despite the world's need for answers, Science is ruthless in finding it, along with the people behind it.
She's too pure for this world. Matthos took a turn and let the thought sink.
She was too pure for this world, and he wasn't.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone